Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.21.12
न कामयेऽहं गतिमीश्वरात् परा-
मष्टर्द्धियुक्तामपुनर्भवं वा ।
आर्तिं प्रपद्येऽखिलदेहभाजा-
मन्त:स्थितो येन भवन्त्यदु:खा: ॥ १२ ॥
na kāmaye ’haṁ gatim īśvarāt parām
[na kaamaye ’ham gatim eeshvaraat paraam]
aṣṭarddhi-yuktām apunar-bhavaṁ vā
[ashtarddhi-yuktaam apunar-bhavam vaa]
ārtiṁ prapadye ’khila-deha-bhājām
[aartim prapadye ’khila-deha-bhaajaam]
antaḥ-sthito yena bhavanty aduḥkhāḥ
[antah-sthito yena bhavanty aduhkhaah]
Word-for-word
na
—
not
kāmaye
—
desire
aham
—
I
gatim
—
destination
īśvarāt
—
from the Supreme Personality of Godhead
parām
—
great
aṣṭa-ṛddhi-yuktām
—
composed of the eight kinds of mystic perfection
apunaḥ-bhavam
—
cessation of repeated birth (liberation, salvation)
vā
—
either
ārtim
—
sufferings
prapadye
—
I accept
akhila-deha-bhājām
—
of all living entities
antaḥ-sthitaḥ
—
staying among them
yena
—
by which
bhavanti
—
they become
aduḥkhāḥ
—
without distress.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
na kāmaye ’haṁ gatim īśvarāt parām
na
not
kāmaye
desire
aṣṭarddhi-yuktām apunar-bhavaṁ vā
ārtiṁ prapadye ’khila-deha-bhājām
antaḥ-sthito yena bhavanty aduḥkhāḥ
aham
I
gatim
destination
īśvarāt
from the Supreme Personality of Godhead
parām
great
aṣṭa-ṛddhi-yuktām
composed of the eight kinds of mystic perfection
apunaḥ-bhavam
cessation of repeated birth (liberation, salvation)
vā
either
ārtim
sufferings
prapadye
I accept
akhila-deha-bhājām
of all living entities
antaḥ-sthitaḥ
staying among them
yena
by which
bhavanti
they become
aduḥkhāḥ
without distress.
I do not pray to the Supreme Personality of Godhead for the eight perfections of mystic yoga, nor for salvation from repeated birth and death. I want only to stay among all the living entities and suffer all distresses on their behalf, so that they may be freed from suffering.
Purport
Vāsudeva Datta made a similar statement to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, requesting the Lord to liberate all living entities in His presence. Vāsudeva Datta submitted that if they were unfit to be liberated, he himself would take all their sinful reactions and suffer personally so that the Lord might deliver them. A Vaiṣṇava is therefore described as being para-duḥkha-duḥkhī, very much aggrieved by the sufferings of others. As such, a Vaiṣṇava engages in activities for the real welfare of human society.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
I do not pray to the Supreme Lord for the eight perfections of mystic yoga, nor for salvation from repeated birth and death. I want only to stay among all the living entities and suffer all distresses on their behalf, so that they may be freed from suffering.
I shall remain among the suffering beings and take the suffering due to them. I alone should experience the suffering of all jīvas. I can tolerate my suffering but I cannot tolerate the suffering of others.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Rantideva does not ask for mystic perfections or even for liberation — he asks only to remain among living beings and suffer their distress so they may be freed. The highest devotional posture is voluntary suffering on behalf of others.
Reflection Questions
- What suffering of others would I sincerely take on if I could?
- Where am I still asking for personal liberation rather than universal relief?
My note
Source: vedabase.io